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OS: Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks - CPU: Core i5 2.3GHz - RAM: 8 GB - Video: Intel HD3000 512MB - Disk Space: 700MB (with movies) 150MB (without) Known Issues: - When starting a new game session, the droid introduction can't be skipped. Renaming the ALBRIEF.DLL and EMBRIEF.DLL files will remove the intros for both Empire and Rebellion. Pyramid is proof in action of what I said when Mac OS X first came out: that Apple's provision of a great system-level application framework and free developer tools will eventually make for some really original, interesting programs. And Pyramid is very reasonably priced.
If you have anything to contribute -- e.g. configurations for editors, new editors, or opinion -- don't hesitate to edit or create pages.
There's an EditorConfigurationHowto available.
Contents
Please keep wiki links as wiki links, use external links only if there is no existing page for the editor. Please add pages like BoaConstructor also to page IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments.
Multiplatform Editors
Name | Platform | Impl. Language | License | Notes |
Linux, FreeBSD | Python, GTK | GPLv3 | Embed Vim. Little brother of PIDA | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Tcl/Tk | Proprietary | Extensible in Tcl, Tk; Can interact with python. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python | MIT | Python language support for Atom-IDE, powered by the Python language server. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | C++, wxWidgets | GPLv3 | class browser does not currently work for .py files, but it's still a nice IDE to use for python projects | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | C, GTK+ | GPLv3 | The link points to the features page. | |
Linux, Windows, FreeBSD | C | GPLv3 | Cream is a free and easy-to-use configuration of the powerful and famous Vim text editor for both Microsoft Windows and GNU/Lfinux. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | C, GTK+ | GPLv2 | CSS editor with syntax highlighting for Python, and embedded Python interpreter. Extensible through a Python API. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | BSD | Extensible in Python; part of PythonCard. Includes PyCrust shell. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, PyQt | GPLv3 | Complete IDE, very well integrated with PyQT development, but usable for any kind of project. Supports projects, debugging, auto-complete, syntax coloring, etc. It is extensible via plug-in system. Integrated version control interface for Git, Subversion and Mercurial through core plugins. eric6 requires Python 3 (and, if desired, PyQt5), and supports CxFreeze and PyInstaller, Django and Pyramid, PyLint and Vulture | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | BRIEF-compatible, supports Python syntax, in-buffer Python interpreter, supports lots of languages. Powerful macro language. | ||
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | Tcl/Tk | Public domain | DRAKON diagram editor with code generation in Python. | |
Windows, Linux and Mac/MacPorts | Python, PyGTK | GPLv3 | Interactive shell with history box and code box, auto-completion of attributes and file names, auto-display of function arguments and documentation. Keeps your recent results, provides session history saving (optionally in HTML), interactive plotting with matplotlib. Extremely fast and responsive. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPL | Simple, Highly Customizable Editor/Environment. A Tribute to DrScheme. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Java | EPL | Eclipse is .. an open extensible IDE for anything and nothing in particular.' Support for Python can be obtained via the PyDEV plugin. | |
Linux, Windows | Proprietary | Built-in Python syntax highlighting, Python class browsing, Python-compatible regular expressions, code folding, and extensive options for running external tools such as Python scripts. | ||
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | wxWindows | A general purpose developer's text editor written in Python/wxPython. It supports python syntax highlighting, auto-ident, auto-completion, classbrowser, and can run scripts from inside the editor. Extensible with plugins written in python. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | C, Lisp | GPLv3 | Python support with EmacsPythonMode. Extensible in Python using pymacs | |
Linux, Windows, FreeBSD and OS/2 | Proprietary | Customizable Python mode, syntax coloring, function tagging. | ||
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | Python, PyQt4 | GPLv3 | Extensible editor written in Python, Python/C/Nim code tree browser, 3-window editing, text diff, multi-language support, Python REPL, manipulate editor text with Python code | |
Unix/X, Windows, DOS, OS/2 | C++ | GPL | Supports lots of languages, including Python; doesn't seem programmable | |
Unix/X, Windows | C, GTK+ | GPLv2 | A small and lightweight GTK+ IDE that supports lots of languages, including Python. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | C, Python | GPLv2 | gedit is the official text editor of the GNOME desktop environment, with Python syntax highlighting. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | Python, PyQt | Proprietary | Ideas is a feature rich IDE that supports debugging, interpreting and project management. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Java | GPLv2 | syntax coloring for python, extensible with jython, supports many file formats, has folding, fully customisable, has sidebar for class and functions, fast for a Java application | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS | Java | GPLv3 | IDE with Jython Shell. Syntax coloring for python, extensible with jython, supports many file formats, fully customisable, has sidebar for class and functions | |
Unix, Windows | C | GPLv2 | Supports Python syntax and a Python-specific menu. | |
Unix, VMS, MSDOS, OS/2, BeOS, QNX, and Windows. | C | GPLv2 | Syntax highlighting and indenting, (optional) emacs keybindings, programmable with s-lang. Note: comment out 'msw_help(..' line in pymode.sl if you are having problems on Windows. | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS | Java | GPLv2 | Has three plugins - one for Jython and one for Python/Jython JpyDbg - interactive editing debugging, code browsing, highlighting. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | Java, Python | GPL | NetbeansjEdit cross IDE plugin | |
Unix/OSX/Cygwin/Interix (curses), MS-DOS (DR DOS, FreeDOS, Win, OS/2 DOS-Box) | C | GPL | Versatile WordStar-like editor (JOE fork) with many colourised syntax-highlighting modes | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | C++ | GPLv2 | Kde main developping app. Code folding, syntax highlighting, navigator. projects, class browser, version control, customizable keybindings. Comes also with some typical python project models: pyton Qt app, Tkinter app and simple script. | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | Komodo is an award winning Python IDE from ActiveState. Fully-integrated Python 3 support featuring code intelligence with autocomplete and calltips, Python debugger (includes remote debugging), interactive shell, remote file support, macros, templating, emacs command support and great help documentation. There is also an open-source version called Komodo Edit (Source), as part of the Open Komodo project started November 2007. | ||
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary/Open Source | scaled-down version of Komodo IDE which also supports Python, but excludes the integrated debugger. | ||
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv3 | Python IDE with focus is on simplicity and ease of use. It is fast and lightweight. It features Python indentation, line numbers, code folding, syntax highlighting, shell access, code completion, a program runner, a source browser, indentation guides, a white space indicator, autosaving, an edge line, multiple tabs, printing, jumping to a specific line, word searching, word replacement, zooming undo/redo, pastebin.com code submission, Python syntax checking, the ability to change the indentation of many lines at once, autocompletiton, and bad brace checking. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, PyQt | MIT | Outlining editor, fully scriptable and extensible, supporting literate programming. 100% pure Python code. | |
Unix, Windows | C, GTK+ | LGPL | Gtk editor with python bindings, allows plugins written in python. | |
Linux, Windows | C | GNU GPL | Small, terminal-based editor, Syntax highlighting | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS X | C | GPLv3 | Easy to use, small, powerful, fast, terminal-based editor. Supports UTF-8, syntax highlighting, undo, autocomplete, macros, regexes, bookmarks. v2.4 released 2012-04 | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | C | GPLv2 | X-Based, Python support builtin. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X, others | Java | GPLv2 | Netbeans is an open extensible cross platform IDE ; Support for Python can be obtained via the JpyDbg plugin. A new plugin exists for Netbeans 6.5 or newer - info. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | Python, PyQt4 | GPLv3 | Lightweight and extensible editor. Class browser, project manager, PEP8 finder, virtualenv, plugin support | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv2 | wxPython based editor. Can be easily extended with mixins and plugins, and has many features. Seems to be biased towards Python web development as contains FTP GUI, RSS aggregator and HTML preview. | |
Windows NT, Linux (with GTK+ 2) | C++, wxWidgets | Freeware | Easy to use text editor with syntax highlighting for Python. Embeds the Python interpreter to extend functionality of the application | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Java | Apache 2.0 | Full-featured IDE for Python. Has Free and Open Source edition fully supporting Python as well as proprietary Professional Edition with Django, Flask, Pyramid and Google App Engine support. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Java, Eclipse | EPL | Eclipse plugin. Code-completion. Debugger. Under active development. (ShowMeDo Videos) | |
Linux, Windows | Python, Tk | GPLv3 | Ultra-lightweight Python/text editor made in Python with Tk. Emphasis on easy customization and no-bloat attitude. | |
Face of god mac os. Unix, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv2 | Written in Python - code folding, snippets, unicode, multiple documents, code completion, several languages, macros. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | MIT | Free open-source extension for Visual Studio Code. Supports syntax highlighting, debugging, code completion, code navigation, refactoring, with support for Django, multi threaded, local and remote debugging. | ||
Windows/Linux/Mac (wxPython) | Python | GPLv3 | An interactive environment for python features include: Multiple independent python interpreters. Interactively program with different GUI toolkits (wxPython, TkInter, pyGTK, pyQT4 and PySide). Matlab style namespace/workspace browser. Object auto-completions, calltips and multi-line command editing in the console. Object inspection and python path management. Simple code editor and integrated debugger. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, PySide | BSD License | Open-source Python IDE focused on interactivity and introspection, which makes it very suitable for scientific computing. Its practical design is aimed at simplicity and efficiency. Pyzo consists of two main components, the editor and the shell, and uses a set of pluggable tools to help the programmer in various ways: e.g. source structure, interactive help, workspace, file browser (with functionality for searching). Also includes a post-mortem debugger. | |
SciTE | Windows, Linux (GTK+) | C++ | MIT-Like | A highly configurable light-weight source code editor (about 50 file formats) based on widely-used Scintilla rich text widget/control. Features: sytax highlighting, code folding, auto-indent, brace matching, codepage/unicode support, multiple documents, context help, code execution, output pane, external tools support, RegExp find/replace, text export (HTML, RTF, PDF, LaTeX, XML). Python API for calltips and autocompletion available. |
Windows, Linux, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv3 | Stani's Python Editor. Auto indentation, auto completion, call tips, syntax coloring/highlighting, UML viewer, class explorer, source index, auto todo list, sticky notes, integrated PyCrust shell, Python file browser, recent file browser, drag&drop, context help. Blender support with a Blender 3D object browser, runs interactively inside Blender. Ships with WxGlade (GUI designer), PyChecker (source code doctor) and Kiki (regular expression console). Extensible with WxGlade. (ShowMeDo Videos) | |
Windows, Linux, macOS | Python, PyQt5 | MIT | Spyder is a powerful scientific environment written in Python, for Python,and designed by and for scientists, engineers and data analysts. It features a unique combination of the advanced editing, analysis, debugging and profiling functionality of a comprehensive development tool with the data exploration, interactive execution, deep inspection and beautiful visualization capabilities of a scientific package. Furthermore, Spyder offers built-in integration with many popular scientific packages, including NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, IPython, QtConsole, Matplotlib, SymPy, and more. Beyond its many built-in features, Spyder's abilities can be extended even further via first- and third-party plugins. It is conveniently integrated in the cross-platform Anaconda distribution, and is the centerpiece of the Python(x,y) and WinPython distributions for Windows. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | Syntax coloring, popup function arguments, class hierarchy browser, graphical debugger, and other nice Python features. Context tagging with class/module namespaces, code navigation, and smart indenting are also supported. | ||
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | C++, Python | Proprietary | Beautiful interface, Python syntax highlighting, Python plugins. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python | MIT | For teaching/learning programming. Focused on program runtime visualization. Provides stepping both in statements and expressions, no-hassle variables view, separate mode for explaining references etc. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | C | Charityware | Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing. Syntax coloring, indenting, autocompletion, and source-navigation tools for Python. Can be scripted in Python. See also Cream. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | Powerful commercial IDE designed specifically for Python. Auto-completion, call tips, syntax highlighting, goto-definition, keyboard modes for emulating Visual Studio, VI/Vim, Emacs, & Brief, graphical debugger, code browser, integrated shell, scriptable in Python, and much more. (ShowMeDo Videos) | ||
Linux, Windows | Python, wxPython | GPL | Simple text editor written in python. Syntax highlighter, Code fold, Export code in HTML.. |
Unix-Only Editors
Name | Platform | FreeSoftware? | ZeroPrice? | Notes |
Unix + GTK | X | Supports debugging Python, Tcl, Ruby, Perl, Lua scripts. Code intelligence (Code completion, folding, auto-complete, code snippets, syntax highlighting matching tags, show keyword or variable information when mouse over..). Keyword help and improved script document. Integrated commonly-used scripting libraries (Tk, wxPython, Pygame, Pmw, Numeric..). Supports compiling python scripts to Windows EXE files. |
Windows-Only Editors
Name | Platform | Impl. Language | License | Notes |
Windows | C++ | GPL | Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment, its use is governed by GPL License. Based on the powerful editing component Scintilla, Notepad++ is written in C++ and uses pure Win32 API and STL which ensures a higher execution speed and smaller program size. By optimizing as many routines as possible without losing user friendliness, Notepad++ is trying to reduce the world carbon dioxide emissions. When using less CPU power, the PC can throttle down and reduce power consumption, resulting in a greener environment. | |
Windows | Pascal/Delphi | MIT | Free and open-source Python IDE created with the ambition to become competitive in functionality with commercial Windows-based IDEs |
Macintosh-Only Editors
Name | Platform | Notes |
Mac OS | Python-mode extensible in Tcl | |
Mac OS X 10.4 or later | Full-featured text editor; includes Python support. TextWrangler is the free version (see below). | |
Mac OS X 10.7 or later | General purpose editor with autocompletion for the Python standard library, plus inline documentation. | |
Mac OS X 10.4 or later | 'text editor + file transfer + svn + css + terminal + books + more = whoah. welcome to coda. grow beautiful code.' | |
Mac OS X (Cocoa) | Programmer's text editor with Python syntax highlighting. Written in Python with PyObjC. Open-source (GPL). | |
OS X (Cocoa) | Fork of Smultron. No longer under development | |
Mac OS | Included in MacPython distribution. | |
Mac OS 68k Mac OS 9 Mac OS X | Does not initially include Python support but new language modes can be created. One available here Mi_Python | |
Mac OS X | Python syntax coloring. Allow multiple author to edit the same file collaborativelly over the network using 'Bonjour' (previously Rendezvous). | |
Mac OS X 10.4 or later | Free and full-featured text editor based on BBEdit. Includes Python syntax highlighting. | |
Mac OS X | Free IDE and text editor. Includes Python syntax coloring. | |
Mac OS X 10.3.9+ | Great Cocoa editor with Python support including syntax coloring, integrated documentation, and a runtime wrapper with hyperlinked tracebacks. Note that code-folding of classes is currently broken for PEP 8 compliant code. | |
Mac OS X 10.6 or later | Again under active development, support for Python syntax coloring. Only available in the Mac App Store. | |
Mac OS X 10.3 or later | Free OS X based IDE for the Python (and other) programming language (replaces discontinued PyOXIDE), with syntax coloring, completion, tool tips, source level debugger, help browser, etc.. | |
Mac OS X 10.6 or later | Free text editor, with Python syntax highlighting. A paid pro version with more features is also available. |
Online Editors
Name | Notes |
A general web-based IDE with support for Python. Provides a full Ubuntu environment with Python 2.7.6, and support for Django workspaces. | |
An interactive Python IDE for data exploration and visualization. Provides a full online Anaconda-based Python environment, with real-time collaboration, interactive IPython sessions, and easy publishing of output figures and code. Includes syntax highlighting and autocomplete. The service was shut down on 2nd Jan 2017 | |
'Host, run, and code Python in the cloud!' Free and paid plans include access to multiple versions of CPython, PyPy, IPython notebooks, a large selection of third-party modules, bash and MySQL shells, and more. | |
An online IDE for numerical and data science computing experiments - includes: real-time collaboration, a customizable editor, a console and much more. The basic account is free of charge. | |
A collection of computational mathematics tools in the cloud, including IPython notebooks, SageMath, Numpy/Scipy/Matplotlib, and Cython. | |
Continuum Analytics' (distributors of the Anaconda Python distribution) hosted data analysis environment. Includes IPython notebooks, data visualization methods like matplotlib and bokeh, ability to add AWS nodes and clusters, command-line shells, file storage, SSH access, and other elements. (Some features require paid account) |
Glorified Editors
'IDEs' that don't integrate anything Python-specific go here.
Name | Platform | Notes |
Unix + GNOME | Cross-language IDE; syntax coloring & folding for Python. | |
Linux x86 | Commercial IDE with support to 30 other languages. | |
Unix | Commercial cross-language IDE; nice multi-user project manager. | |
Windows | Cross-language IDE with integrated SQL support and automation features (currently German only GUI) | |
Python + wxPython | Simple, Highly Customizable Editor/Environment. A Tribute to DrScheme. | |
Java + Jython + Python | An OpenSource IDE for Python, Jython, and Java. Supports Syntax highlighting, Code Completion and many more. Developed in Java. | |
Python + Tkinter + Tix | An extended version of IDLE using Tix. | |
Java | Java IDE with Python support through Pythonid plugin - includes code completion, syntax & error highlighting, intra-file refactoring | |
Unix + KDE | Cross-language IDE for KDE - supports Python syntax/projects. | |
Java | A Java IDE with an optional plugin for Jython. | |
Windows/X (Python+wxPython) | Written in Python - code folding, snippets, unicode, multiple documents, code completion, several languages, macros. | |
Windows | Available either as part of ActiveState's ActivePython distribution (which is not open source) or as part of the Win32All extensions from Mark's pages (which is open source). | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | rope is a python IDE aimed at providing a rich set of software refactorings. | |
Unix/Windows with Tcl/Tk | Cross-language IDE & Source code analysis tool. | |
Eclipse | Python and PHP IDE; available in commercial Professional and open-source Foundation versions | |
Windows | GUI designer for wxPython. | |
Linux/Windows/Mac | Full featured, free IDE bundled with wxPython, features projects, scintilla, and debugging | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | Non-free Cross-language GUI dialog designer with integrated support for editing your Python callback functions. | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | A 'designer' for WxPython (requires wxPython) | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | Multi-language editor that support python autocomplete, Direcotry/class browser, tags/multi-views editing, unicode, and Django wizard(requires wxPython) | |
Python Tkinter | GUI, class browser, file manager, with code completion. Licensed under the GPL. |
Enhanced Python shells
Name | Platform | Notes |
Python + PyCrust | Interactive Python shell included in wxPython. | |
Python + PySlices | New 'notebook' version of PyCrust with save/load features and the ability to run blocks of code in separate 'slices'. | |
Unix, Mac OS X, Windows | Enhanced interactive Python shell. Also usable as pythonic system shell (bash/cmd.exe) replacement. Supports autocompletion. Inline syntax highlighting. (ShowMeDo Videos) | |
Java, at least 1.4 | Interactive, embeddable Jython shell with code completion. Licensed under the QPL. | |
Python, Windows | Interactive python shell using wxPython. py script and exe for win. Data plotting capability from within the shell. Free. | |
KDE | An interactive Python shell using PyKDE and a KHTMLPart (for HTML rendering). | |
Python 2.3 (or higher) and PyQt | An interactive Python shell using PyQt. | |
Unix, Mac OS X | Interactive shell with highlighting and autocomplete. |
Mobile Device Editors
'IDEs' that run on mobile devices and tablets.
Name | Platform | Notes |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. | |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. | |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. | |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. Curb your adaption mac os. | |
iOS | A patch of Python-3.7.1, designed to make it compile on iOS. Python becomes a framework, and your programs call python_main(argc, argv) to execute python scripts. | |
iOS | IDE for iPad | |
iOS | IDE for iOS with native graphic and sound support through high-level API; games and interactive demos included | |
iOS | IDE for iPhone and iPad with Python 3 support. Custom library is supported. See Python Box page for details. |
Other Resources
PySmell provides autocompletion for Vim, Emacs and TextMate
Never ending debate
EmacsVsVi
CategoryEditors
In astronomy, there is a wide variety of software. In most cases, there are many different versions of software that do a particular thing. The most common reason for this is preference. While I use some of these software titles, I am in no way endorsing one brand over another. All of the software listed here are popular among the amateur astronomer population; in fact, it is common for one person to have several different programs that do about the same thing - the features of one might be missing in another, but that other may excel in something else (if that makes sense). For ease, I will break them down into category. Keep in mind this list is not at all complete. If there is a software that is worth mentioning, please send us the link.
The ASP has releaced a PDF file of astronomy related apps for the iPhone and Android. View or download the file.
Planetarium Software | Specialty Observing Programs | CCD Software | Robotic Software | Other Software
Software for OS X (Apple) | New! iPhone/iPod/iPad Apps | New! Palm PDA Apps
This type of software is used to map the night sky from any location on the Earth. It most cases, the software below can print our star charts for a night of viewing and will have extensive databases with at least the most popular night sky objects.
- The SkyX by Software Bisque is probably the most popular planetarium software available. I also use version 6 of this software. The benefit of using TheSky is their extensive database, ability to remotely control a computerized telescope, and work seamlessly with their other popular product, CCDSoft. Their website also has a Hot Fix section for up to date software updates (you will have to register).
- The power of TheSky has come to OS X in the form of the new version of TheSky X student edition. TheSky X is now available in the The SkyX Serious Astronomer Edition are available for both OS X and Windows. Windows 7 and 64bit OS's are supported. The previous version, The Sky 6 Professional is still a well respected program that does run on 64bit operating systems but is a Windows only program.
- TheSky Pocket Edition provides access to the virtual sky from your Palm or Pocket PC. For the diehard astronomer, you can download and extended version of the SAO catalog as well.
- A free, open-source software called Stellarium is probably a good place to start.
- Another free planetarium software is Celestia. It runs on Windows, Linux and Mac. This software not only shows you the sky from Earth, but also allows you to 'fly' to other locations and view the sky from there.
- Google Earth is no longer limited to great satellite images of Earth, they have created color images of the space as well. They include Hubble images in places where they belong, and a cool feature is that you can switch the view based on where you live.
- Microsoft Research has put together an educational program that is nothing short of a breakthrough. The World Wide Telescope allows the user access to just about every image taken from just about every space probe there is. Better still, the user can change the view from radio through to x-ray (visible included of course). It's Windows only, its free so download it now.
- Keeping with the freeware theme, the third free bit of software is an up-and-coming simple yet capable sky charting program called Asynx Planetarium.
- Starry Night is a software that uses OpenGL and Quick Time to show a photo realistic night sky. It also provides telescope control. Updates for this software are available at their website, but newer versions allow updates through an application installed with the program.
- An old style DOS type software by Project Pluto called Guide 8 is also a pretty capable Windows based software as well. While it does not have the pizzazz associated with the 'modern' planetariums, it does have what I consider one of the best presentations of nebula. Guide updates are also available on the website.
- A specialized planetarium software called AstroMB is also available. I have no experience with this software, but it boasts a pretty impressive set of features - available for viewing at their website.
- SkyMap is another software title I am not familiar with, but it does seem to have a faithful following.
- Redshift is a program that used to be Macintosh only, and doesn't seem to want to go away. I used it many years ago and found it capable although I have no idea how the newer versions are compared to what is currently available.
- Sky Tools by CapellaSoft is a bit different from other planetarium software as it has an integrated notepad to store observing notes during observation. While I have no personal experience with this software, this also seems to have a faithful following.
- SkyChart III by Southern Stars is a planetarium software that is for both Windows and Macintosh.
- Voyager 4 by Carina Software - a Windows and OS X platform planetarium software, this provides the standard features expected in virtual sky and telescope control.
- Stellaris — A shareware program for the amateur astronomer
- Cartes du Ciel/SkyChart - a planetarium program boasting 16 different catalogs boasting its completeness over other software with the same feature. Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and has a few more catalog add-ons available.
- CyberSky 5 is a run of the mill planetarium program. It offers the standard features in that the night sky can be viewed at any date in time. While not the prettiest program out there, this serves two main purposes: it keeps the price down and speeds up the program. Most new programs use Open GL for that real sky look but comes at the ex pence of computer processor usage, graphics usage and memory usage. I tested this program and found it does what it is supposed to do. It is Windows only program but will run om XP, Vista, and 7 in both 32 bit and 64 bit modes.
- Planetensuche is a free program collection of astronomy software (database, formula collection, simulation, bioastronomy - the genesis of life, quiz and a distance calculator). Mainly Planetensuche engage about exoplanets - therefore the name (Planetensuche = planet search).
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These programs are not full featured planetariums, but specialize in specific objects.
If you have anything to contribute -- e.g. configurations for editors, new editors, or opinion -- don't hesitate to edit or create pages.
There's an EditorConfigurationHowto available.
Contents
Please keep wiki links as wiki links, use external links only if there is no existing page for the editor. Please add pages like BoaConstructor also to page IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments.
Multiplatform Editors
Name | Platform | Impl. Language | License | Notes |
Linux, FreeBSD | Python, GTK | GPLv3 | Embed Vim. Little brother of PIDA | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Tcl/Tk | Proprietary | Extensible in Tcl, Tk; Can interact with python. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python | MIT | Python language support for Atom-IDE, powered by the Python language server. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | C++, wxWidgets | GPLv3 | class browser does not currently work for .py files, but it's still a nice IDE to use for python projects | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | C, GTK+ | GPLv3 | The link points to the features page. | |
Linux, Windows, FreeBSD | C | GPLv3 | Cream is a free and easy-to-use configuration of the powerful and famous Vim text editor for both Microsoft Windows and GNU/Lfinux. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | C, GTK+ | GPLv2 | CSS editor with syntax highlighting for Python, and embedded Python interpreter. Extensible through a Python API. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | BSD | Extensible in Python; part of PythonCard. Includes PyCrust shell. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, PyQt | GPLv3 | Complete IDE, very well integrated with PyQT development, but usable for any kind of project. Supports projects, debugging, auto-complete, syntax coloring, etc. It is extensible via plug-in system. Integrated version control interface for Git, Subversion and Mercurial through core plugins. eric6 requires Python 3 (and, if desired, PyQt5), and supports CxFreeze and PyInstaller, Django and Pyramid, PyLint and Vulture | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | BRIEF-compatible, supports Python syntax, in-buffer Python interpreter, supports lots of languages. Powerful macro language. | ||
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | Tcl/Tk | Public domain | DRAKON diagram editor with code generation in Python. | |
Windows, Linux and Mac/MacPorts | Python, PyGTK | GPLv3 | Interactive shell with history box and code box, auto-completion of attributes and file names, auto-display of function arguments and documentation. Keeps your recent results, provides session history saving (optionally in HTML), interactive plotting with matplotlib. Extremely fast and responsive. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPL | Simple, Highly Customizable Editor/Environment. A Tribute to DrScheme. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Java | EPL | Eclipse is .. an open extensible IDE for anything and nothing in particular.' Support for Python can be obtained via the PyDEV plugin. | |
Linux, Windows | Proprietary | Built-in Python syntax highlighting, Python class browsing, Python-compatible regular expressions, code folding, and extensive options for running external tools such as Python scripts. | ||
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | wxWindows | A general purpose developer's text editor written in Python/wxPython. It supports python syntax highlighting, auto-ident, auto-completion, classbrowser, and can run scripts from inside the editor. Extensible with plugins written in python. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | C, Lisp | GPLv3 | Python support with EmacsPythonMode. Extensible in Python using pymacs | |
Linux, Windows, FreeBSD and OS/2 | Proprietary | Customizable Python mode, syntax coloring, function tagging. | ||
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | Python, PyQt4 | GPLv3 | Extensible editor written in Python, Python/C/Nim code tree browser, 3-window editing, text diff, multi-language support, Python REPL, manipulate editor text with Python code | |
Unix/X, Windows, DOS, OS/2 | C++ | GPL | Supports lots of languages, including Python; doesn't seem programmable | |
Unix/X, Windows | C, GTK+ | GPLv2 | A small and lightweight GTK+ IDE that supports lots of languages, including Python. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | C, Python | GPLv2 | gedit is the official text editor of the GNOME desktop environment, with Python syntax highlighting. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | Python, PyQt | Proprietary | Ideas is a feature rich IDE that supports debugging, interpreting and project management. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Java | GPLv2 | syntax coloring for python, extensible with jython, supports many file formats, has folding, fully customisable, has sidebar for class and functions, fast for a Java application | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS | Java | GPLv3 | IDE with Jython Shell. Syntax coloring for python, extensible with jython, supports many file formats, fully customisable, has sidebar for class and functions | |
Unix, Windows | C | GPLv2 | Supports Python syntax and a Python-specific menu. | |
Unix, VMS, MSDOS, OS/2, BeOS, QNX, and Windows. | C | GPLv2 | Syntax highlighting and indenting, (optional) emacs keybindings, programmable with s-lang. Note: comment out 'msw_help(..' line in pymode.sl if you are having problems on Windows. | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS | Java | GPLv2 | Has three plugins - one for Jython and one for Python/Jython JpyDbg - interactive editing debugging, code browsing, highlighting. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | Java, Python | GPL | NetbeansjEdit cross IDE plugin | |
Unix/OSX/Cygwin/Interix (curses), MS-DOS (DR DOS, FreeDOS, Win, OS/2 DOS-Box) | C | GPL | Versatile WordStar-like editor (JOE fork) with many colourised syntax-highlighting modes | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | C++ | GPLv2 | Kde main developping app. Code folding, syntax highlighting, navigator. projects, class browser, version control, customizable keybindings. Comes also with some typical python project models: pyton Qt app, Tkinter app and simple script. | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | Komodo is an award winning Python IDE from ActiveState. Fully-integrated Python 3 support featuring code intelligence with autocomplete and calltips, Python debugger (includes remote debugging), interactive shell, remote file support, macros, templating, emacs command support and great help documentation. There is also an open-source version called Komodo Edit (Source), as part of the Open Komodo project started November 2007. | ||
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary/Open Source | scaled-down version of Komodo IDE which also supports Python, but excludes the integrated debugger. | ||
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv3 | Python IDE with focus is on simplicity and ease of use. It is fast and lightweight. It features Python indentation, line numbers, code folding, syntax highlighting, shell access, code completion, a program runner, a source browser, indentation guides, a white space indicator, autosaving, an edge line, multiple tabs, printing, jumping to a specific line, word searching, word replacement, zooming undo/redo, pastebin.com code submission, Python syntax checking, the ability to change the indentation of many lines at once, autocompletiton, and bad brace checking. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, PyQt | MIT | Outlining editor, fully scriptable and extensible, supporting literate programming. 100% pure Python code. | |
Unix, Windows | C, GTK+ | LGPL | Gtk editor with python bindings, allows plugins written in python. | |
Linux, Windows | C | GNU GPL | Small, terminal-based editor, Syntax highlighting | |
Unix, Windows, Mac OS X | C | GPLv3 | Easy to use, small, powerful, fast, terminal-based editor. Supports UTF-8, syntax highlighting, undo, autocomplete, macros, regexes, bookmarks. v2.4 released 2012-04 | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | C | GPLv2 | X-Based, Python support builtin. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X, others | Java | GPLv2 | Netbeans is an open extensible cross platform IDE ; Support for Python can be obtained via the JpyDbg plugin. A new plugin exists for Netbeans 6.5 or newer - info. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS | Python, PyQt4 | GPLv3 | Lightweight and extensible editor. Class browser, project manager, PEP8 finder, virtualenv, plugin support | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv2 | wxPython based editor. Can be easily extended with mixins and plugins, and has many features. Seems to be biased towards Python web development as contains FTP GUI, RSS aggregator and HTML preview. | |
Windows NT, Linux (with GTK+ 2) | C++, wxWidgets | Freeware | Easy to use text editor with syntax highlighting for Python. Embeds the Python interpreter to extend functionality of the application | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Java | Apache 2.0 | Full-featured IDE for Python. Has Free and Open Source edition fully supporting Python as well as proprietary Professional Edition with Django, Flask, Pyramid and Google App Engine support. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Java, Eclipse | EPL | Eclipse plugin. Code-completion. Debugger. Under active development. (ShowMeDo Videos) | |
Linux, Windows | Python, Tk | GPLv3 | Ultra-lightweight Python/text editor made in Python with Tk. Emphasis on easy customization and no-bloat attitude. | |
Face of god mac os. Unix, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv2 | Written in Python - code folding, snippets, unicode, multiple documents, code completion, several languages, macros. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | MIT | Free open-source extension for Visual Studio Code. Supports syntax highlighting, debugging, code completion, code navigation, refactoring, with support for Django, multi threaded, local and remote debugging. | ||
Windows/Linux/Mac (wxPython) | Python | GPLv3 | An interactive environment for python features include: Multiple independent python interpreters. Interactively program with different GUI toolkits (wxPython, TkInter, pyGTK, pyQT4 and PySide). Matlab style namespace/workspace browser. Object auto-completions, calltips and multi-line command editing in the console. Object inspection and python path management. Simple code editor and integrated debugger. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Python, PySide | BSD License | Open-source Python IDE focused on interactivity and introspection, which makes it very suitable for scientific computing. Its practical design is aimed at simplicity and efficiency. Pyzo consists of two main components, the editor and the shell, and uses a set of pluggable tools to help the programmer in various ways: e.g. source structure, interactive help, workspace, file browser (with functionality for searching). Also includes a post-mortem debugger. | |
SciTE | Windows, Linux (GTK+) | C++ | MIT-Like | A highly configurable light-weight source code editor (about 50 file formats) based on widely-used Scintilla rich text widget/control. Features: sytax highlighting, code folding, auto-indent, brace matching, codepage/unicode support, multiple documents, context help, code execution, output pane, external tools support, RegExp find/replace, text export (HTML, RTF, PDF, LaTeX, XML). Python API for calltips and autocompletion available. |
Windows, Linux, Mac OS X | Python, wxPython | GPLv3 | Stani's Python Editor. Auto indentation, auto completion, call tips, syntax coloring/highlighting, UML viewer, class explorer, source index, auto todo list, sticky notes, integrated PyCrust shell, Python file browser, recent file browser, drag&drop, context help. Blender support with a Blender 3D object browser, runs interactively inside Blender. Ships with WxGlade (GUI designer), PyChecker (source code doctor) and Kiki (regular expression console). Extensible with WxGlade. (ShowMeDo Videos) | |
Windows, Linux, macOS | Python, PyQt5 | MIT | Spyder is a powerful scientific environment written in Python, for Python,and designed by and for scientists, engineers and data analysts. It features a unique combination of the advanced editing, analysis, debugging and profiling functionality of a comprehensive development tool with the data exploration, interactive execution, deep inspection and beautiful visualization capabilities of a scientific package. Furthermore, Spyder offers built-in integration with many popular scientific packages, including NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, IPython, QtConsole, Matplotlib, SymPy, and more. Beyond its many built-in features, Spyder's abilities can be extended even further via first- and third-party plugins. It is conveniently integrated in the cross-platform Anaconda distribution, and is the centerpiece of the Python(x,y) and WinPython distributions for Windows. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | Syntax coloring, popup function arguments, class hierarchy browser, graphical debugger, and other nice Python features. Context tagging with class/module namespaces, code navigation, and smart indenting are also supported. | ||
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | C++, Python | Proprietary | Beautiful interface, Python syntax highlighting, Python plugins. | |
Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | Python | MIT | For teaching/learning programming. Focused on program runtime visualization. Provides stepping both in statements and expressions, no-hassle variables view, separate mode for explaining references etc. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS | C | Charityware | Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing. Syntax coloring, indenting, autocompletion, and source-navigation tools for Python. Can be scripted in Python. See also Cream. | |
Unix/X, Windows, Mac OS X | Proprietary | Powerful commercial IDE designed specifically for Python. Auto-completion, call tips, syntax highlighting, goto-definition, keyboard modes for emulating Visual Studio, VI/Vim, Emacs, & Brief, graphical debugger, code browser, integrated shell, scriptable in Python, and much more. (ShowMeDo Videos) | ||
Linux, Windows | Python, wxPython | GPL | Simple text editor written in python. Syntax highlighter, Code fold, Export code in HTML.. |
Unix-Only Editors
Name | Platform | FreeSoftware? | ZeroPrice? | Notes |
Unix + GTK | X | Supports debugging Python, Tcl, Ruby, Perl, Lua scripts. Code intelligence (Code completion, folding, auto-complete, code snippets, syntax highlighting matching tags, show keyword or variable information when mouse over..). Keyword help and improved script document. Integrated commonly-used scripting libraries (Tk, wxPython, Pygame, Pmw, Numeric..). Supports compiling python scripts to Windows EXE files. |
Windows-Only Editors
Name | Platform | Impl. Language | License | Notes |
Windows | C++ | GPL | Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment, its use is governed by GPL License. Based on the powerful editing component Scintilla, Notepad++ is written in C++ and uses pure Win32 API and STL which ensures a higher execution speed and smaller program size. By optimizing as many routines as possible without losing user friendliness, Notepad++ is trying to reduce the world carbon dioxide emissions. When using less CPU power, the PC can throttle down and reduce power consumption, resulting in a greener environment. | |
Windows | Pascal/Delphi | MIT | Free and open-source Python IDE created with the ambition to become competitive in functionality with commercial Windows-based IDEs |
Macintosh-Only Editors
Name | Platform | Notes |
Mac OS | Python-mode extensible in Tcl | |
Mac OS X 10.4 or later | Full-featured text editor; includes Python support. TextWrangler is the free version (see below). | |
Mac OS X 10.7 or later | General purpose editor with autocompletion for the Python standard library, plus inline documentation. | |
Mac OS X 10.4 or later | 'text editor + file transfer + svn + css + terminal + books + more = whoah. welcome to coda. grow beautiful code.' | |
Mac OS X (Cocoa) | Programmer's text editor with Python syntax highlighting. Written in Python with PyObjC. Open-source (GPL). | |
OS X (Cocoa) | Fork of Smultron. No longer under development | |
Mac OS | Included in MacPython distribution. | |
Mac OS 68k Mac OS 9 Mac OS X | Does not initially include Python support but new language modes can be created. One available here Mi_Python | |
Mac OS X | Python syntax coloring. Allow multiple author to edit the same file collaborativelly over the network using 'Bonjour' (previously Rendezvous). | |
Mac OS X 10.4 or later | Free and full-featured text editor based on BBEdit. Includes Python syntax highlighting. | |
Mac OS X | Free IDE and text editor. Includes Python syntax coloring. | |
Mac OS X 10.3.9+ | Great Cocoa editor with Python support including syntax coloring, integrated documentation, and a runtime wrapper with hyperlinked tracebacks. Note that code-folding of classes is currently broken for PEP 8 compliant code. | |
Mac OS X 10.6 or later | Again under active development, support for Python syntax coloring. Only available in the Mac App Store. | |
Mac OS X 10.3 or later | Free OS X based IDE for the Python (and other) programming language (replaces discontinued PyOXIDE), with syntax coloring, completion, tool tips, source level debugger, help browser, etc.. | |
Mac OS X 10.6 or later | Free text editor, with Python syntax highlighting. A paid pro version with more features is also available. |
Online Editors
Name | Notes |
A general web-based IDE with support for Python. Provides a full Ubuntu environment with Python 2.7.6, and support for Django workspaces. | |
An interactive Python IDE for data exploration and visualization. Provides a full online Anaconda-based Python environment, with real-time collaboration, interactive IPython sessions, and easy publishing of output figures and code. Includes syntax highlighting and autocomplete. The service was shut down on 2nd Jan 2017 | |
'Host, run, and code Python in the cloud!' Free and paid plans include access to multiple versions of CPython, PyPy, IPython notebooks, a large selection of third-party modules, bash and MySQL shells, and more. | |
An online IDE for numerical and data science computing experiments - includes: real-time collaboration, a customizable editor, a console and much more. The basic account is free of charge. | |
A collection of computational mathematics tools in the cloud, including IPython notebooks, SageMath, Numpy/Scipy/Matplotlib, and Cython. | |
Continuum Analytics' (distributors of the Anaconda Python distribution) hosted data analysis environment. Includes IPython notebooks, data visualization methods like matplotlib and bokeh, ability to add AWS nodes and clusters, command-line shells, file storage, SSH access, and other elements. (Some features require paid account) |
Glorified Editors
'IDEs' that don't integrate anything Python-specific go here.
Name | Platform | Notes |
Unix + GNOME | Cross-language IDE; syntax coloring & folding for Python. | |
Linux x86 | Commercial IDE with support to 30 other languages. | |
Unix | Commercial cross-language IDE; nice multi-user project manager. | |
Windows | Cross-language IDE with integrated SQL support and automation features (currently German only GUI) | |
Python + wxPython | Simple, Highly Customizable Editor/Environment. A Tribute to DrScheme. | |
Java + Jython + Python | An OpenSource IDE for Python, Jython, and Java. Supports Syntax highlighting, Code Completion and many more. Developed in Java. | |
Python + Tkinter + Tix | An extended version of IDLE using Tix. | |
Java | Java IDE with Python support through Pythonid plugin - includes code completion, syntax & error highlighting, intra-file refactoring | |
Unix + KDE | Cross-language IDE for KDE - supports Python syntax/projects. | |
Java | A Java IDE with an optional plugin for Jython. | |
Windows/X (Python+wxPython) | Written in Python - code folding, snippets, unicode, multiple documents, code completion, several languages, macros. | |
Windows | Available either as part of ActiveState's ActivePython distribution (which is not open source) or as part of the Win32All extensions from Mark's pages (which is open source). | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | rope is a python IDE aimed at providing a rich set of software refactorings. | |
Unix/Windows with Tcl/Tk | Cross-language IDE & Source code analysis tool. | |
Eclipse | Python and PHP IDE; available in commercial Professional and open-source Foundation versions | |
Windows | GUI designer for wxPython. | |
Linux/Windows/Mac | Full featured, free IDE bundled with wxPython, features projects, scintilla, and debugging | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | Non-free Cross-language GUI dialog designer with integrated support for editing your Python callback functions. | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | A 'designer' for WxPython (requires wxPython) | |
Unix/Windows/Mac | Multi-language editor that support python autocomplete, Direcotry/class browser, tags/multi-views editing, unicode, and Django wizard(requires wxPython) | |
Python Tkinter | GUI, class browser, file manager, with code completion. Licensed under the GPL. |
Enhanced Python shells
Name | Platform | Notes |
Python + PyCrust | Interactive Python shell included in wxPython. | |
Python + PySlices | New 'notebook' version of PyCrust with save/load features and the ability to run blocks of code in separate 'slices'. | |
Unix, Mac OS X, Windows | Enhanced interactive Python shell. Also usable as pythonic system shell (bash/cmd.exe) replacement. Supports autocompletion. Inline syntax highlighting. (ShowMeDo Videos) | |
Java, at least 1.4 | Interactive, embeddable Jython shell with code completion. Licensed under the QPL. | |
Python, Windows | Interactive python shell using wxPython. py script and exe for win. Data plotting capability from within the shell. Free. | |
KDE | An interactive Python shell using PyKDE and a KHTMLPart (for HTML rendering). | |
Python 2.3 (or higher) and PyQt | An interactive Python shell using PyQt. | |
Unix, Mac OS X | Interactive shell with highlighting and autocomplete. |
Mobile Device Editors
'IDEs' that run on mobile devices and tablets.
Name | Platform | Notes |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. | |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. | |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. | |
iOS | Universal iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) IDE. Curb your adaption mac os. | |
iOS | A patch of Python-3.7.1, designed to make it compile on iOS. Python becomes a framework, and your programs call python_main(argc, argv) to execute python scripts. | |
iOS | IDE for iPad | |
iOS | IDE for iOS with native graphic and sound support through high-level API; games and interactive demos included | |
iOS | IDE for iPhone and iPad with Python 3 support. Custom library is supported. See Python Box page for details. |
Other Resources
PySmell provides autocompletion for Vim, Emacs and TextMate
Never ending debate
EmacsVsVi
CategoryEditors
In astronomy, there is a wide variety of software. In most cases, there are many different versions of software that do a particular thing. The most common reason for this is preference. While I use some of these software titles, I am in no way endorsing one brand over another. All of the software listed here are popular among the amateur astronomer population; in fact, it is common for one person to have several different programs that do about the same thing - the features of one might be missing in another, but that other may excel in something else (if that makes sense). For ease, I will break them down into category. Keep in mind this list is not at all complete. If there is a software that is worth mentioning, please send us the link.
The ASP has releaced a PDF file of astronomy related apps for the iPhone and Android. View or download the file.
Planetarium Software | Specialty Observing Programs | CCD Software | Robotic Software | Other Software
Software for OS X (Apple) | New! iPhone/iPod/iPad Apps | New! Palm PDA Apps
This type of software is used to map the night sky from any location on the Earth. It most cases, the software below can print our star charts for a night of viewing and will have extensive databases with at least the most popular night sky objects.
- The SkyX by Software Bisque is probably the most popular planetarium software available. I also use version 6 of this software. The benefit of using TheSky is their extensive database, ability to remotely control a computerized telescope, and work seamlessly with their other popular product, CCDSoft. Their website also has a Hot Fix section for up to date software updates (you will have to register).
- The power of TheSky has come to OS X in the form of the new version of TheSky X student edition. TheSky X is now available in the The SkyX Serious Astronomer Edition are available for both OS X and Windows. Windows 7 and 64bit OS's are supported. The previous version, The Sky 6 Professional is still a well respected program that does run on 64bit operating systems but is a Windows only program.
- TheSky Pocket Edition provides access to the virtual sky from your Palm or Pocket PC. For the diehard astronomer, you can download and extended version of the SAO catalog as well.
- A free, open-source software called Stellarium is probably a good place to start.
- Another free planetarium software is Celestia. It runs on Windows, Linux and Mac. This software not only shows you the sky from Earth, but also allows you to 'fly' to other locations and view the sky from there.
- Google Earth is no longer limited to great satellite images of Earth, they have created color images of the space as well. They include Hubble images in places where they belong, and a cool feature is that you can switch the view based on where you live.
- Microsoft Research has put together an educational program that is nothing short of a breakthrough. The World Wide Telescope allows the user access to just about every image taken from just about every space probe there is. Better still, the user can change the view from radio through to x-ray (visible included of course). It's Windows only, its free so download it now.
- Keeping with the freeware theme, the third free bit of software is an up-and-coming simple yet capable sky charting program called Asynx Planetarium.
- Starry Night is a software that uses OpenGL and Quick Time to show a photo realistic night sky. It also provides telescope control. Updates for this software are available at their website, but newer versions allow updates through an application installed with the program.
- An old style DOS type software by Project Pluto called Guide 8 is also a pretty capable Windows based software as well. While it does not have the pizzazz associated with the 'modern' planetariums, it does have what I consider one of the best presentations of nebula. Guide updates are also available on the website.
- A specialized planetarium software called AstroMB is also available. I have no experience with this software, but it boasts a pretty impressive set of features - available for viewing at their website.
- SkyMap is another software title I am not familiar with, but it does seem to have a faithful following.
- Redshift is a program that used to be Macintosh only, and doesn't seem to want to go away. I used it many years ago and found it capable although I have no idea how the newer versions are compared to what is currently available.
- Sky Tools by CapellaSoft is a bit different from other planetarium software as it has an integrated notepad to store observing notes during observation. While I have no personal experience with this software, this also seems to have a faithful following.
- SkyChart III by Southern Stars is a planetarium software that is for both Windows and Macintosh.
- Voyager 4 by Carina Software - a Windows and OS X platform planetarium software, this provides the standard features expected in virtual sky and telescope control.
- Stellaris — A shareware program for the amateur astronomer
- Cartes du Ciel/SkyChart - a planetarium program boasting 16 different catalogs boasting its completeness over other software with the same feature. Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and has a few more catalog add-ons available.
- CyberSky 5 is a run of the mill planetarium program. It offers the standard features in that the night sky can be viewed at any date in time. While not the prettiest program out there, this serves two main purposes: it keeps the price down and speeds up the program. Most new programs use Open GL for that real sky look but comes at the ex pence of computer processor usage, graphics usage and memory usage. I tested this program and found it does what it is supposed to do. It is Windows only program but will run om XP, Vista, and 7 in both 32 bit and 64 bit modes.
- Planetensuche is a free program collection of astronomy software (database, formula collection, simulation, bioastronomy - the genesis of life, quiz and a distance calculator). Mainly Planetensuche engage about exoplanets - therefore the name (Planetensuche = planet search).
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These programs are not full featured planetariums, but specialize in specific objects.
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This will be the longest list as there are many of these types of programs available. I will keep the descriptions short for this list.
- CCDSoft - works in concert with TheSky for full camera and telescope control. Also provides the necessary image reduction, processing and stacking
- Mira Pro and Mira AP - professional level CCD software
- MaxImDL - a popular choice that offers CCD control and processing
- AIP4WIN - a popular choice that is really a book with included software
- Santa Barbara Instrument Groups software page - CCD software updates
- IRIS - a free and capable program for CCD control and processing
- Registar - specialized image stacking program
- RegiStax - free image stacking program, used mostly for planets
- K3CCDTools - provides video image stacking and image processing
- Fits4Win - Windows program to view FITS files
- AstroVideo - specialized video stacking program
- RC-Astro Console - Russell Croman's add-in for enhanced MaxImDL functionality
- SigmaReject - Another Russell Croman plug-in for MaxImDL
- RGB Weight Calculator - Specialized program that assists in determining ideal exposure time for various filtered images
- AstroArt 3.0 - 96bit image processing software
- ImagePlus - image converter and processor, useful for Digital SLR cameras
- Adobe PhotoShop - need I say more? The de-facto standard for the 'digital darkroom'
- Grain Surgery - clean up those messy images
- PixInsight - image enhancement
- NEAT Image - digital filter for noise reduction
- FitsPlug - FITS file plug-in for PhotoShop
- Irfanview - free image reader and basic processing, reads just about everything
- FITS Liberator - a free PhotoShop plugin by the folks from the ESA/ESO and NASA
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This next batch of software specializes in telescope control - either from another room or across the globe.
- TheSky with CCDSoft provide robotic control from a computer nearby.
- Want to improve your telescopes pointing accuracy? T-Point is a software that models your mounts accuracy and uses this model to improve pointing accuracy.
- Orchestrate is a software to automate imaging sessions - so you can get some sleep.
- For those with motorized domes, AutomaDome adds the ability to control the dome as well - moving the dome with the scope as well as opening and closing.
- Users of the Paramount can improve accuracy with PrecisionPEC.
- Have your cake and eat it too - the complete Bisque Observatory Software Suite.
- DC-3 Dreams - full suite of robotic observatory control, software updates available in their support pages
- PoleAlignMax - software to assist your computer control telescope to point to the north
- ASCOM - the communications standard for interface control in astronomy
- CCDWare - a new software company providing a variety of products used to assist in tracking accuracy and automatic control (with links to other software as well), imaging stacking, session planning and CCD inspection.
- SN Finder - This software automates supernova searches, designed by an amateur astronomer for amateur astronomers.
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Pyramid Rebellion Mac Os Catalina
The following software doesn't really fit in the above categories.
- Aberrator - software to assist in star testing a telescope
- Microsoft Service Packs - a nice website to know, has all current service packs for Microsoft products
- MSDN .Net Updates - for those Visual Studio .Net programmers, this is a valuable resource
- Astro Image Frame Maker - a utility designed to add borders and titles to astro images
- The KDE Education Project has a program called KStars that runs on Linux
- GlobularClusters - it can be very useful to amateur astronomers to better understand the effects of gravity in a star cluster and to make experiments “at home� by changing fundamental parameters such as concentration and diameter of a cluster or mass and velocity of individual stars.
- SpaceEngine - a free space simulation program that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data, while regions uncharted by astronomy are generated procedurally. Millions of galaxies, trillions of stars, countless planets - all available for exploration. You can land any planet, moon or asteroid and watch alien landscapes and celestial phenomena. You can even pilot starships and atmospheric shuttles.
- Starblinker - allows you to easily search for new stars in your astronomical photos written by Marco Lorrai.
- Astromagic - The software allows the user to extract highly accurate astrometric measurements of sources from FITS images. In particular, its capabilities extend to frames exposed with non-sidereal tracking, and to images on which the target detection is elongated or trailed by Dott. David J. Tholen, Gianpaolo Pizzetti and Dr. Marco Micheli.
Pyramid Rebellion Mac Os X
Software for OS X (Apple):
Pyramid Rebellion Mac Os 11
- The power of TheSky has come to OS X in the form of TheSky X student edition. TheSky X is now available in the Serious Astronomer Edition as well as the Professional Edition - available for both OS X and Windows. What a wonderful thing!
- Seeker by Bisque - a 3D immersive tool for traveling through our Solar System - its available for OS X as well.
- Google Earth is no longer limited to great satellite images of Earth, they have created color images of the space as well. They include Hubble images in places where they belong, and a cool feature is that you can switch the view based on where you live.
- SkyChart III by Southern Stars is a planetarium software that is for both Windows and Macintosh.
- The only Mac OS X only planetarium software is Voyager 4 by Carina Software. While I have not seen it in action, it promises to be a very powerful program that also offers telescope control.
- Cosmographia - A beautiful Solar System simulator for the Mac available from the App Store
- Stark Labs - providers of Nebulosity (CCD control), PHD (guiding), DSLR Shutter control and a few others.
- Microsoft Research has put together an educational program that is nothing short of a breakthrough. The World Wide Telescope allows the user access to just about every image taken from just about every space probe there is. Better still, the user can change the view from radio through to x-ray (visible included of course). The program is Windows only, but Mac users can use the online version for free.
- NRAO Astronomical Image Processing System (AIPS) - process radio images from the NRAO
- IRAF for Macintosh - Maciraf - allowing Mac users to use the absolute standard in professional astronomy
- Spitzer Science Center - Spot and Leopard (tools for planning and archiving)
- ESO's Scisoft - Data Reduction and Analysis
- SAOImage DS9 - FITS viewer
- MIIPS (Multipurpose Interactive Image Processing System) - image display, image analysis, plotting, and function fitting
- AstroGrav - Gravity Simulator
- OSXplanet - Solar System Desktop (real time data)
- LaTeXiT - LaTeX Typesetting Utilities
- SBIG (Santa Barbara Instrument Group) - drivers and software
- Equinox 6 - Planetarium, Telescopes and Camera Control that is geared towards SBIG CCD Cameras
- AstroYacker - Image Stacker
- Macam - Webcam Software
- AstroPlanner - Plan your observations, does logging too
- Astro IIDC - Camera Control for Firewire Cameras
- iAstroPhoto - Digital SLR Camera Control
- Astrostack - Image Stacker
- ESA/ESO/NASA FITS Liberator - PhotoShop plugin
- Lynkeos - Webcam Image Processing
- ScopeDriver - Telescope Control
- Newton's Aquarium - Interactive Visualization of Newton's Law of Gravity
- FITS Liberator - a free PhotoShop plugin by the folks from the ESA/ESO and NASA
- INDI - Open source and free INDI server with easy to use and handsome graphical user interface.
Software for the iPhone/iPod/iPad - otherwise known as Apps:
- SkySafari Pro - planetarium and telescope control, huge database
- Star Walk - a best seller. It's a planetarium, can show you the area you are pointing your device as long as you have GPS, and offers some news and basic Solar System data
- Redshift - planetarium software
- Sky Master - planetarium software
- Solar Walk - from the makers of Star Walk. Solar System simulator
- Gas Giants - by Bisque. A virtual view of Jupiter and Saturn with real-time positions of their major moons
- Solar System -The Photographic Journey - image gallery of objects in our Solar System
- Mars Atlas - a map of Mars
- Moon Atlas - a map of our Moon
- Mercury Atlas - a map of Mercury
- Venus Atlas - a map of Venus
- Jupiter Atlas - a sort of map of Jupiter
- Saturn Atlas - a sort of map of Saturn
- 3D Sun - view 3D images of our Sun and receive alerts of real time Solar data such as sunspot activity and Solar storms
- AstronomyCalc - a calculator for basic conversions, date and time, coordinate conversions and Solar calculations
- Astronomy - a cool app that is an image gallery, lists past, current and future space missions, a history of Astronomy and a list of Stars and Constellations with basic visibility data
- NASA - of course NASA must have an app, and its a list of their missions, image gallery, news and NASA TV
- Go Star Gaze - a part of the Night Sky Network it offers a list of clubs and events, all up to date with updates when the program starts
- Sky View - an app that uses your devices camera to superimpose the constellations. Relies on GPS.
- Cosmic Clock - an app for Julian Date and Swatch Internet Time (beat time)
- APODViewer - view the Astronomy Photo of the Day as well as browse past entries
- Sky Week - by Sky and Telescope shows a list of interesting things to look at for each morning and evening
- Buzz Aldrin - an information packed app of myths and mysteries, the Space Race, exploration of the Moon and Mars and covers the Hubble. You do know who Buzz Aldrin is, right?
- Solar Monitor - an app that displays current Solar 'weather' and offers a forecast of Solar Winds for those who love to watch the Aurora
- Galaxy Zoo - have you heard of the SETI@Home screensaver? In the same vein, this allows the user to view images of very distant galaxies from the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) and assist in identifying galaxy type through a step-by-step category
- Exoplanet - a great app that is a database of known exoplanets. It also graphs out orbital position and distance from host star as well as how the discovery was made
- Kepler - just like Exoplanet with the database of exoplanets, but limits the list to discoveries made by the Kepler probe
- HubbleZoom - An image gallery of Hubble Space Telescope images, though not the best interface
- Gravilux - advertised as a game, this program is interesting as it uses the n-body equations to simulate a galaxy merger
- iCSC - the Clear Sky Chart for IOS
- iNEO - a list of asteroids closest to Earth
- Cosmic - The American Museum of Natural History app displaying a zoomable mosaic of Saturn comprised of hundred's of images
- Nebulae - an image gallery of nebula
- Our Solar System - an image gallery of Solar System images
- GoSkyWatch - planetarium software that uses GPS
- SkyQ - planetarium app by Celestron. Also includes planet rise and set times, Moon phases and the positions of the major moons of Saturn and Jupiter
- Distant Suns 3 - planetarium software with very nice database
- INDI - the mobile control panel for the remote INDI servers for iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. It offers the same functionality as INDI Control Panel for OS X with iOS look & feel. The only limitation is, that it doesn't support BLOB transfer.
- Cosmic Watch - It's a clock which displays the Sun, Moon and Planets positions and can be used to demonstrate the apparent movements of the sky.
- Planetarium - the name says it all. It provides Sun, Moon and planet data as well as all ther constellations. It's database has 2.5 million stars, the 110 Messier objects, the Caldwell 110, 280 double-stars, the Herschel 400 and an additional 1000 deep space objects. And it has telescope control via serial port. Comets and asteroids are also available on the expandable database.
This list is by no means complete. These just happen to be the apps I use, have used or seen. If you know of any that should be listed here, please let me know.
Software for the Palm PDA:
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